Ben Barton of Pinehurst Drive spoke to the commission concerning four serviceberry trees he had removed from the right-of-way in front of his home. One tree was dead, another uprooted, and he wanted the others removed to maintain visibility up and down the street for kids playing, etc. Regis agreed that visibility is an issue on the curve. Barton offered to replace the trees he removed with others elsewhere in the village; we agreed not to plant in the tree lawn there.

Old Business

We are aware of no new Gypsy Moth infestation in the village.

Fall tree planting – We will plant about two dozen trees this fall. Don H. suggested that we get three bids and choose one to do all the planting, since the number of trees is down this year, and we agreed. Rose asked if the trees in the uptown pits will be replaced. Possibly male gingkoes will go in those.

Don circulated the tree removal list. It was noted that twenty-nine on the list are maples, some of which are relatively young and are in developments like The Colony and Erinwood. We will be looking into why this seems to be occurring and if other communities are finding this in maples.

New Business

Don Holycross and the Village Council have called a meeting on September 14th with representatives from AEP and the PUCO to discuss the tree trimming in the village. Connie asked Tom if the trimming could be halted until the meeting, and Tom said they already have the work orders in for the work being done currently. It is the same as what was done four years ago and is in keeping with the 50-year ordinance the village granted in 1970. There will be more discussion at the September 14th meeting.

There is a problem with the sidewalk sections in front of the Del Mar restaurant heaving up and causing drainage issues. Connie suggested including Don Holycross in the discussion. Darren reported that the water stays and freezes there, causing a safety issue. Regis advised that the pavement actually slopes towards the building instead of away and that it’s more an engineering problem.

Lisa Bowers will be on temporary duty for the next two years in the Woodlands Division and Ann Bonner will be covering us with urban forestry issues. Lisa will continue to handle Tree City USA.

Darren reported the street division is doing some clearance trimming. The scheduled tree removals will be completed after leaf pick-up. Overgrown yews behind the Granville Historical Museum will be removed.

Tom reported that AEP removed a sugar maple on South Pearl St. that was cabled together and found it had been stuffed with a tire!